Shock, surprise.
Joy, excitement.
Various emotions swirled within Sam's chest as he intently observed Anson. For a fleeting moment, he even began to doubt his own eyes.
Instinctively, Sam glanced left and right, trying to confirm that he wasn't the only one seeing Anson.
One small movement, and a slight smile tugged at the corner of Anson's mouth. "Relax, director, this isn't Phantom of the Opera."
Then, Anson also turned to look around. "I guess the Public Theater isn't big enough—there aren't many places to hide."
Now, Sam was 100% certain that the person in front of him was indeed Anson.
He couldn't have imagined this kind of scenario with his own mind.
But still, he was a little dazed. Sam couldn't wrap his head around it. "But how are you here?"
Anson looked shocked: "...Director, have I become an unwelcome guest?"
Sam suddenly realized how his words might have come off. He quickly waved his hands and shook his head, trying to explain but not knowing where to start.
Anson's eyes twinkled with amusement as he gently patted Sam's shoulder. "Director, please continue your work. Don't let me interrupt the shoot. Otherwise, if I make you all work late, I might really become an unwelcome guest on set."
Sam's brain was still a bit scrambled, unable to keep up with Anson's train of thought.
Anson took the initiative. "Director, are you sure you don't need my help? I can help Kristen rehearse."
Sam didn't say a word, just nodded repeatedly: Of course! Of course! That would be perfect!
Anson smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting. "I'll be back soon."
"Shhh!"
Anson signaled everyone to keep quiet.
It seemed like nothing had changed.
The past three weeks had been like a brief summer afternoon nap, and when they opened their eyes, everything was back to normal.
But was it really? Or were they still in some kind of dream—perhaps a midsummer night's dream?
Sam wasn't entirely sure.
He looked around and saw that everyone else, like him, was watching Anson's back with excitement, confusion, joy, and a sense of surreal wonder. Even though their eyes were filled with disbelief, their slightly upturned lips betrayed their true feelings.
The atmosphere lightened, quietly and effortlessly.
The person at the center of all this seemed blissfully unaware of the commotion he had caused.
Anson moved away from the monitors, hunched over like a latecomer sneaking into a theater performance, apologizing softly as he made his way through the rows of crowded extras filling the theater.
To film this scene, the room was packed to capacity. The extras filled the indoor space, but it wasn't until they experienced it firsthand that they realized how tedious shooting could be. The five or ten seconds that might appear on screen could take an entire day to film. They were trapped in the theater, stuck in an endless loop.
And now someone was late?
A faint murmur of protest rippled through the audience as extras expressed their annoyance. But this wasn't a real theater, and they weren't real audience members. After a brief stir, they quickly quieted down again.
Then a thought hit them:
Wait a second—was that man who just passed by… Anson?
…
On stage, Kristen was struggling to focus.
She had been mulling over her performance, thinking she had found the right feeling, but still felt something was off. And the director hadn't given any feedback, which only confirmed to her that her performance wasn't quite there yet. She was stuck in a state of doubt, unable to trust her own judgment.
She wanted another take.
But they had already been working in the theater for over two hours without any breakthrough. Every additional take was more torture for the entire crew. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but for once, she hesitated.
She felt a lack of confidence.
Then, a commotion from the audience distracted her. It seemed like even the extras were growing impatient, which only deepened Kristen's hesitation and inner turmoil.
That feeling… was terrible.
And then—
"Let's go again."
Sam's voice came from behind the monitors, causing Kristen to breathe a sigh of relief. She responded crisply.
"Okay!"
She turned around, took a deep breath, clenched her fist, and silently cheered herself on.
This scene focused on Mary Jane.
In the second installment of the series, Mary Jane, always insecure, had confessed her feelings to Peter Parker but was rejected. In her confusion and heartache, she quickly jumped into another relationship, using it as an escape from reality.
However, emotions aren't like a switch you can flip on or off at will. Mary Jane still liked Peter Parker, and she couldn't understand why Peter had rejected her.
Because Peter seemed to like her. His looks, his attitude, and his subtle signals all suggested that, though they were hard to pin down.
After graduation, Mary Jane's dreams of becoming an actress were finally coming true. She was discovered on the street, filmed a commercial, and got an opportunity to perform in an off-Broadway show. Finally, she was becoming an actress.
Mary Jane kept inviting Peter—along with her other friends—to watch her performance. She wasn't entirely sure why, but she hoped to see Peter in the audience.
She kept telling herself that Peter had rejected her, that he was part of her past, and that nothing had ever really started between them. She shouldn't hope for more.
But she couldn't help herself.
There was something she just couldn't explain.
And then, disappointment followed. Time and time again, Peter promised to come to her show but kept standing her up. This left Mary Jane deeply hurt.
Not only by Peter, but also by herself.
In truth, Peter genuinely wanted to go. He truly wanted to see her perform. But time and time again, Spider-Man duties got in the way.
Just like his decision to reject her, Peter wanted to take on the responsibilities of being Spider-Man. The cost, however, was his own life, which was torn apart by constant crime and unexpected events. That's why he kept missing her shows.
While Mary Jane suffered in agony, Peter was going through the same turmoil.
Yet Mary Jane had no idea.
After repeatedly hoping, only to be disappointed over and over again, she fell into a deep well of pain.
She believed it was her own fault. She shouldn't keep longing for a man who would never reciprocate. She should focus on the happiness right in front of her.
So, she agreed to marry her current boyfriend.
But then, to her shock, she saw Peter sitting in the audience.
The scene they were filming now was this one.
After hoping and being let down so many times, Mary Jane had finally resolved to move on with her life. But just as she had made that decision, there was Peter, sitting in the audience.
It was as if fate itself was playing a cruel joke on her.
Mary Jane thought she had buried her feelings and was ready to say goodbye to Peter, but in the instant she saw him, it was like a lightning bolt hit her.
The emotional impact was overwhelming—chaotic and intense—leaving her completely off guard.
Even she hadn't expected the feelings to be so strong. They shook her to her core, leaving her panicked and…